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LOS ANGELES – Sheriff Jim McDonnell and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department hosted State Attorney General Kamala D. Harris at the Pitchess Detention Facility to highlight the new “Back on Track LA” anti-recidivism initiative. This innovative pilot program aims to prepare individuals in County custody for return and reentry as contributing members of their communities.

Sheriff Mc Donnell applauded the Attorney General’s leadership in this area and underscored the importance of new thinking around recidivism reduction: “We have too many people in our jails who can and should be contributing members of the community. Under the Back On Track program, inmates will receive instruction, mentorship system, and a supportive structure -- both in and out of custody -- which will facilitate their return to our community and give them a better shot of not returning to our care,” said Los Angeles Sheriff Jim McDonnell. “This unique program offers hope to those who too often cycle in and out of our jails and will serve as a model for national thinking around these important issues.”

State Attorney General Kamala D. LA County Probation Chief Jerry Powers were present along with local community colleges, a local charter school and the Ford Foundation.

“Reducing recidivism is key to a smart-on-crime approach to criminal justice,” Attorney General Harris said. “Instead of only reacting to crime, we must also focus on prevention to shut the revolving door of the criminal justice system. Back on Track LA will hold offenders accountable to their communities, their families and themselves. This initiative will give participants the skills to become contributing and law-abiding members of society, which enhances public safety.”

Back on Track LA is composed of 90 participants— all male “triple nons”: non-violent, non-serious, and non-sexual offenders, housed in LA County. The initiative was designed to provide the participants with the critical continuity of care that focuses on drug treatment, life skills and job skills development while in custody. The in-custody program consists of four training tracks that include cognitive behavior training, education (academic and career-technical), life skills and re-entry training. The in-custody program will also provide additional child support services, family services, identification, health services, and tattoo removal.

The Los Angeles County Probation Department provides case managers (“coaches”) who prepare a customized reentry plan and link offenders to services needed for a seamless transition from in-custody to out-of-custody—targeting the time offenders are most likely to recidivate.

In October 2014, Back on Track LA received a $750,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Second Chance Act to assist with funding the pilot program. Back on Track LA was one of only four awardees in the nation in receipt of the Second Chance Act grant. Additional funding for Back on Track LA was provided by the Ford Foundation, California Wellness Foundation and Rosenberg Foundation.

In November 2013, Attorney General Harris created the Division of Recidivism Reduction and Re-Entry, an office designed to curb recidivism in the state by partnering with counties and District Attorneys on best practices and policy initiatives. The new division is developing a statewide definition of recidivism, identifying grants to fund the creation and expansion of innovative anti-recidivism programs and using technology to facilitate more effective data analysis and recidivism metrics.

In 2005, then-San Francisco District Attorney Harris created a reentry initiative called Back on Track, which aimed to reduce recidivism among certain low-level, non-violent drug offenders. Over a two-year period, the program reduced recidivism among its graduates to less than 10 percent. Back on Track was designated as a model for law enforcement by the U.S. Department of Justice.

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